“Early in this investigation we did have contact with him, direct contact with our detectives,” Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams told reporters, according to Reuters. “They tried to convince him to turn himself in.”

A ping from his cellphone was detected about 100 miles east of Cleveland in Erie, Pa., where he is known to have gambled at the Presque Isle Downs Casino, according to erienewsnow.com.

“Obviously, this individual is armed and dangerous, and quite frankly at this point he could be in a lot of places,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Anthony told a news conference in Cleveland early Monday.

Steve Stephens posted the gruesome video of him killing 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr., a retired foundry worker who had spent Easter Sunday morning with his son and daughter-in-law before he was shot in the head.

Stephens, who has no prior criminal record, is not suspected in any other murders, despite a claim he made in a separate video of having killed more than a dozen other people, police said.

“We know that Steve is still out there,” Williams said. “We’re asking the public to remain vigilant. We’re asking you to go about your day, but be careful.”

The casino where a ping was allegedly detected from Stephens’ phoneMatthew McDermott

Police said he might be driving a white or cream-colored Ford Fusion with the temporary tag of E363630, and asked anyone who spots him or his car to call police or a special hotline at 1-800-CALL FBI.

“We’re going to make this individual’s world very, very small,” US Marshal Pete Elliott said Monday.

In Maple Heights, someone called saying they saw a man matching his description walking into the Giant Eagle on Warrensville Center Road. Maple Heights, Bedford, Bedford Heights, and Regional Transit police responded but did not find the suspect.

After hours of erroneous reports making the rounds online, Cleveland police told citizens to make sure they pay attention to reliable social media feeds.

“Misinformation in emergencies is dangerous,” a Cleveland police spokesperson wrote.